A mother wept in court as she told of her former friendship with a man now accused of sexually assaulting her two young daughters.

The woman, who cannot be named, said she had thought the defendant, Ken Hedley, 61, was "like a second grandfather" to the girls, now aged seven and 11.

Following a divorce, her friendship with Hedley increased and he would take the girls to the park or McDonald's, she said.

The girls also stayed over at Hedley's flat at least once a month between January 1995 and December 1997, when the offences are alleged to have taken place.

Being on income support, the mother regularly borrowed between £5-£10 from Hedley while she waiting for her benefit day to come around.

Her daughters would go round with notes to him asking to borrow the money.

She confirmed that on one occasion she borrowed £250 from Hedley to get together a deposit for a house.

Hedley, of Lifstan Way, Southend, gave evidence.

He explained how he would sit with the girls and do homework with them or watch their Spice Girl routines in the dining room of their home because the mother wanted to watch Neighbours or Home and Away in peace.

Hedley denies all five indecent assault charges and a further charge of committing an act of indecency with a child.

The trial continues.

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